Candle support device



Jan. 17, 1967 H. L. HINGSTON 3,298,206

CANDLE SUPPORT DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1964 INVENTOR. #4204 0 A Mmasrwv United States Patent 6 3,298,206 CANDLE SUPPORT DEVICE Harold L. Hingston, 2293 Bronson Hill Drive, Hollywood, Calif. 90028 Filed Oct. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 405,676 8 Claims. (CI. 6723) My present invention relates to a candle holder and more particularly to a device for supporting a lighted candle on a rimmed structure such as a drinking glass.

At festive occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, etc., candles are often used for celebrating. Most generally candles are used on cakes which provide a generally flat horizontal base for holding the candle in a substantially vertical position. Some attempts have been made to provide candle support devices for attaching candles to other objects; however, these prior art devices have not been found practical, since they do not generally provide a firm support for the candle on a non-horizontal surface nor do they provide for support of the candle in a substantially vertical position on a non-horizontal surface to prevent candle tallow from falling away from the candle as the candle is burned.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for supporting a candle on a rimmed object in a substantially vertical position irrespective of the slope or inclination of the rimmed object.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device for supporting a candle on a drinking vessel.

Other objects and a more complete understanding of my present invention may be obtained by reference to the following claims and specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device of my present invention attached to a drinking glass;

FIG. 2 shows an elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional elevation of the device shown in FIG. 2, taken on section 33.

FIG. 4 shows in sectional side elevation, a modified form of the device of my present invention.

FIG. 5 shows in elevation, another modified form of my present invention.

Referring generally to the drawings, the candle holder device of my present invention is shown in FIG. 1 attached to a rim or lip of the wine glass 12 by positioning the radial slot 14 which is adapted to receive the lip 10 of the glass, over the rim 10 of the glass. The candle 16 is placed firmly in the circumferential groove 18 of the candle support device whereby the candle is disposed in a substantially vertical position so that after the candle is lighted the melted tallow will run down the candle. If the candle is not positioned in the candle support device in a substantially vertical position, the molten tallow will drip off the candle thus necessitating cleaning the tallow from the surface on which the tallow drops.

A preferred embodiment of my present invention is shown in the drawings as having a round body portion 20. Although it is preferred that the upper grooved portion 21 of the support device be curved or rounded, the support device body portion could be of other shapes. The upper candle receiving portion 21 of my support device is grooved so that the candle can be placed in the candle receiving portion, groove 18, of the support device at various inclinations from the horizontal axis of the support device. Thus, irrespective of the inclination of the horizontal axis of this support device, when the device is positioned on the edge or rim of an object such as a drinking glass, brandy snifter, tulip, etc., the candle may always be positioned in a vertical position.

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The thickness of the supportdevice 20- is such that the groove walls 22 are relatively narrow so that as the lower end of the candle is positioned in the groove, the walls 22 will be forced open slightly, but because of the resilience of the support device material, will firmly hold the candle in the groove. In order to provide for a firm grip on the base of the candle, the candle support device may be modified whereby the groove walls 22 are tapered inwardly slightly at the top, as shown in FIG. 4.

The slot 14 adapted to receive the rim of the structure to which the candle support device is attached, is preferably radial with reference to a round candle support device. The slot could of course be in any position relative to the support device whereby the groove is held upwardly to receive the candle in a substantially vertical position when the device is affixed to the rimmed object.

In the design of my candle support device, the slot 14 and the groove 18 are in different geometric planes and preferably the plane of the slot 14 is normal or perpendicular to the plane of the groove 18, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The width of the slot is of a size to render the candle support device useable for a variety of rim widths. In cases where the rim is slightly larger than the width of the slot, the rim can be forced into the slot, thus forcing the slot to open slightly. In order to prevent cracking of the candle support device as the slot is forced open, the inward end 24 of the slot is rounded and preferably enlarged.

Thus it can be seen from the above description and the drawing that the objects of my present invention are fulfilled by providing a candle support device which will fit on thin edged or rimmed objects such as drinking glasses and which may be vertical or inclined to the vertical in a manner such that the candle held in the support is always maintained in a substantially vertical position. FIG. 5 shows a modification of my present invention wherein the body portion 30 is heart-shaped. Groove 32 follows, generally, the upper surface of the support device.

Although my present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity with respect to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the details set forth, but is to be afforded the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for holding a candle on a structure having a rim, comprising:

a support body having its top portion curved and a groove extending circumferentially around said curved portion,

said body also having a slot to receive said rim, said slot extending upwardly from the bottom of said support body and being in a plane normal to the plane of said groove,

said groove being adapted for holding a candle therein at multiple different inclinations to said plane of said slot and in a substantially vertical position irrespective of the inclination of said rim.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support body is round and said slot is radial.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said groove is tapered from the circumference of said curved portion inwardly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said slot is rounded at its inner end.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner extremity of said slot is rounded and enlarged.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said groove is defined within said support body by groove walls constructed of a resilient material and so arranged and con structed that said walls spread apart slightly when said candle is placed in said groove.

7. An apparatus for holding a candle on a structure having a thin edge, comprising:

a support body having its top portion curved and a groove extending circumferentially around said curved portion,

said body also having a slot to receive said thin edge, said slot extending upwardly from the bottom of said support body and being in a plane normal to the plane of said groove,

said groove being adapted for holding a candle therein at multiple different inclinations to said plane of said slot and in a substantially vertical position irrespective of the inclination of said thin edge.

8. A candle support apparatus comprising, in combination:

a container having a rim,

a support body having its top portion curved and a groove extending circumferentially around said curved portion,

said body also having a slot to receive said rim, said slot extending upwardly from the bottom of said support body, said groove being adapted for holding a candle therein 5 at multiple difierent inclinations to the plane of said slot and in a substantially vertical position irrespective of the inclination of said rim.

References Cited by the Examiner 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS 568,314 9/1896 Kregel 67-25.5 737,966 9/1903 Rummelin 6723 2,475,274 7/ 1949 Beckwith 6723 15 FOREIGN PATENTS 83,028 9/1895 Germany. 853,134 10/1952 Germany.

20 CHARLES J. MYHRE, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR HOLDING A CANDLE ON A STRUCTURE HAVING A RIM, COMPRISING: A SUPPORT BODY HAVING ITS TOP PORTION CURVED AND A GROOVE EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND SAID CURVED PORTION, SAID BODY ALSO HAVING A SLOT TO RECEIVE SAID RIM, SAID SLOT EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID SUPPORT BODY AND BEING IN A PLANE NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF SAID GROOVE, SAID GROOVE BEING ADAPTED FOR HOLDING A CANDLE THEREIN AT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT INCLINATIONS TO SAID PLANE OF SAID SLOT AND IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION IRRESPECTIVE OF THE INCLINATION OF SAID RIM. 